Ring-Enlargement of Dimethylaminopropenoyl Cyclopropanes: An Efficient Route to Substituted 2,3-Dihydrofurans

A convenient and efficient synthesis of substituted dihydrofurans is developed via ring-enlargement of 1-dimethylaminopropenoyl-1-carbamoyl/benzoyl cycloproparres catalyzed by ammonium acetate in acetic acid with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Some of the newly synthesized substituted dihydrofurans are subjected to further synthetic transformation in the presence of NaOH (aq) in ethanol to afford the corresponding 5-aryl-2,3-dihydrofuro[3,2-c]pyfidin-4(5H)-ones in high yields.

A copper/p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene/phenanthroline supramolecular compound with 1D [Cu-2-calixarene](n) coordination chains

A supramolecular complex [Cu(phen)(2)H2O]{[Cu(phen)(H2O)](2)[C6AS]}center dot 2.5H(2)O (phen = 1,10'-phenanthroline and C6AS = p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene) has been synthesized under hydrothermal condition, and characterized by IR spectroscopy, TG analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the structure, unprecedented 1D ({[Cu(phen)(H2O)](2)[C(6)AS]}(2-))(n) coordination chains (exactly being belts) are stacked into some 2D layers by the pi center dot center dot center dot pi stacking interactions, which are further interconnected into a 3D extended structure by hydrogen bonding.

Structure of coordination polymer, [Zn(bipy)(H2O)(3)SO4] center dot 2H(2)O (bipy=4,4 '-bipyridine)

The crystal of the title compound (C10H18N2O9SZn M-r=407.69) belongs to the hexagonal system, space group P 6(5) with cell parameters: a=11.411 (2), c=20.908(4) Angstrom, V=2357.7(7) Angstrom(3), Z=6, D-c=1.723g/cm(3), F(000)=1260, mu(MoKa)=1.743mm(-1). The final R and omega R factors are 0.072 and 0.178 respectively for 1335 observed reflections. in the structure, zinc ions are bridged by 4,4'-bipyridine to form infinite chains. The sheets containing parallel chains stack along a 65 screw axis to give a helical staircase motif. The helical structure is mainly controlled by the hydrogen bonds.

The crystal structure and supramolecular chain of [La(NO3)(3)(OH2)(2)(phen)]center dot 15-crown-5

[La(NO3)(3)(OH2)(2)(phen)]. 15-crown-5 is hexagonal, P6(5), with a = 10.955(2), c = 43.769(9) Angstrom, and D-calc = 1.668 g cm(-3) for Z = 6. In the complex, two nitrogen atoms (from phen) and eight oxygen atoms (six from three bidentate nitrate anions and two from water molecules) are coordinated to the central La(III) ion, forming a coordination polyhedron which is approximately a bicapped square antiprism. The coordinated water molecules donate hydrogen bonds to the oxygen atoms of the crown ether, forming polymeric hydrogen bonded chains which wrap helically along the unit cell direction c.

Ansa-metallocene derivatives .2. Syntheses and structures of tetramethyldisiloxandiyl bis(1-indenyl and tetrahydroindenyl) zirconium dichlorides

The ansa-zirconocene derivative tetramethyldisiloxandiyl bis(1-indenyl) zirconium dichloride (1) has been prepared by the reaction of the dilithium salt of 1,3-bis(l-indenyl) tetramethyldisiloxane with ZrCl4 . 2THF, After catalytic hydrogenation, the corresponding tetrahydroindenyl complex (2) has been formed. Both 1 and 2 have been shown by H-1 NMR spectra to be the mixture of the cis(meso) and trans(rac) isomers, The pure trans isomers 1(l), 2(l) and cis isomer 2(c) were obtained by recrystallization, The crystal structures of 1(l) and 2(c) were determined by X-ray diffraction. Both crystals of 1(l) and 2(c) are monoclinics, belonging to space groups P2(1)/n(1(l)) and P2(1)/c(2(c)). In the unit cell of 2(c), one of the six-membered rings of the tetrahydroindenyl Ligands has two different conformations which have the same probabilities.

硫酸盐还原菌混合菌群胞外聚合物对Zn^2＋的吸附和机理

硫酸盐还原菌（SRB）混合菌群分泌的胞外聚合物（EPS）能有效地吸附水溶液中的Zn^2＋在初始p（Zn^2＋）为500mg/L时，EPS对Zn^2＋的吸附量达到326．07mg/g，g。Freundlich方程能相对较好地拟合实验所得吸附数据。SRB混合菌群分泌的EPS的IR分析表明，EPS吸附Zn^2＋起主要作用的官能团是多聚糖C-O-C，羧基和脂类官能团，而蛋白质和多聚糖的-OH对Zn^2＋的结合能力有限.

塔A和塔B地区古地温与热演化史研究

1）依据镜质组反射率（或由沥青、无定形干酪根换算成的镜质组反射率）拟合计算沉积盆地及生油层古地温是一种比较实用而又简便可行的方法。2）从十二口井井温数据分析，除X6井(2.0℃/100M)和X1井(2.05℃/100M)外，其它十口井的现地温梯度均小于2℃/100M。塔里木盆地的现地温梯度是较低的。3）拟合计算古地温的结果表明，塔B和塔A地区古地温梯度偏低半呈下降的趋势：塔B地区古生代隆起区古地温梯度为3.5℃/100M，凹陷区为3.0℃/100M，中生代古地温梯度为2.5-2.7℃/100M，新生代古地温梯度为2.0-2.2℃/100M。塔A及塔C地区：古生代隆起区的古地温梯度为3.5℃/100M，凹陷区为3.0℃/100M；中生代古地温梯度为2.5℃/100M，新生代为2.0-2.2℃/100M，今地温梯度为2.0℃/100M。4）古地温拟合计算结果表明：塔B地区志留系至二叠系地层基本被剥蚀，有的部位下古地层也遭到部分剥蚀。寒武-奥陶系总厚度在3000-4000米以上，生油层的生油期持续时间很长。寒武系底的生油期从寒武纪末到石炭纪（522-342Ma），目前普遍处在干气阶段。奥陶系底的生油期从奥陶纪末期一直持续到第三纪，90%的地区生油高峰期在泥盆纪末（早海西运动以后）之后（见图3-12），目前普遍处于凝析油-湿气阶段。塔A地区志留、泥盆系基本被剥蚀殆尽，而寒武-奥陶系基本未被剥蚀，总厚度在2000-4000米之间。寒武系底的生油期从寒武纪末期到泥盆纪（511-362Ma），至今大部分处于生气阶段。奥陶系底的生油期从泥盆纪一直到第三纪（404-40Ma），约30%的地区生油高峰期在泥盆纪末（早海西运动）之后（见图3-？），至今部分生油岩处于生气阶段。由于受加里东和海西运动的影响，塔A和塔B地区古生界地层普遍存在“二次生油”的现象。两地区石炭-二叠系一般在第三纪开始生油，生油期普遍较短。相对塔B和塔A地工而言，塔C地区受构造运动而遭剥蚀的程度要小得多。寒武-奥陶系总厚度范围为2100-8200米，因此生油层的生油期持续时间很长。寒武系底的生油期从中寒武世到石炭纪（536.5-305Ma）。奥陶系底的生油期从晚奥陶世一直到第三纪晚期（439.5-16.5Ma），仅少数地区生油高峰期在泥盆纪末（早海西运动）之后，目前大部分处于凝析油-湿气到干气阶段。石炭、二叠、三叠及侏罗系生油层目前大都处于“生油窗”内。总之，本区是塔A和塔B地区的主要油源区。5）通过对有机包裹体类型和荧光性质的鉴定、数量的统计、以及盐水溶液包裹体均一温度的测定，可以初步了解有机质热演化程度及含油气情况。6）对中生代样品，Tmax反映的成熟度与其它参数基本一致，而对于古生代样品，由于样品成熟度增大，Tmax失去指示成熟度的作用。原油和生油岩生物标志化合物反映的成熟度基本上与其它指标一致，因此在缺乏反射率资料的地区，可用生物标志化合物近似反映成熟度的变化。

The Influence of COX-2 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Development and the Associated Inflammation

Introduction: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 influences cardiovascular disease and serum concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). The study purpose was to determine the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the COX-2 gene on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development and serum hsCRP concentrations. Patients and Methods: Patients with AAA and disease-free controls were recruited. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The distributions of COX-2 SNPs were investigated (rs20417 and rs4648307). The influence of the COX-2 SNPs on the hsCRP serum concentration was assessed.Results: A total of 230 patients with AAA and 279 controls were included. No difference was found in the genotype distribution of the COX-2 SNPs rs20417 (P = .26) and rs4648307 (P = .90). They did not influence the hsCRP concentration (P = .24 and P = .61, respectively). Haplotype analysis of COX-2 SNPs revealed no difference. Conclusion: These COX-2 SNPs do not play any role in AAA development and do not influence serum hsCRP. These results differentiate AAA development from atherosclerotic diseases.

C/EBP alpha Is Up-regulated in a Subset of Hepatocellular Carcinomas and Plays a Role in Cell Growth and Proliferation

BACKGROUND & AIMS: C/EBP alpha (cebpa) is a putative tumor suppressor. However, initial results indicated that cebpa was up-regulated in a subset of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). The regulation and function of C/EBP alpha was investigated in HCC cell lines to clarify its role in liver carcinogenesis. METHODS: The regulation of C/EBP alpha expression was studied by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, methylation-specific PCR, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. C/EBP alpha expression was knocked-down by small interfering RNA or short hairpin RNA. Functional assays included colony formation, methylthiotetrazole, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, and luciferase-reporter assays. RESULTS: Cebpa was up-regulated at least 2-fold in a subset (approximately 55%) of human HCCs compared with adjacent non tumor tissues. None of the up-regulated samples were positive for hepatitis C infection. The HCC cell lines Hep3B and Huh7 expressed high, PLC/PRF/5 intermediate, HepG2 and HCC-M low levels of C/EBP alpha, recapitulating the pattern of expression observed in HCCs. No mutations were detected in the CEBP alpha gene in HCCs and cell lines. C/EBP alpha was localized to the nucleus and functional in Hep3B and Huh7 cells; knocking-down its expression reduced target-gene expression, colony formation, and cell growth, associated with a decrease in cyclin A and CDK4 concentrations and E2F transcriptional activity. Epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, and the binding of acetylated histone H3 to the CEBP alpha promoter-regulated cebpa expression in the HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: C/EBP alpha is up-regulated in a subset of HCCs and has growth-promoting activities in HCC cells. Novel oncogenic mechanisms involving C/EBP alpha may be amenable to epigenetic regulation to improve treatment outcomes.

Ca(2+) sparks promote myogenic tone in retinal arterioles

Background and Purpose: Ca(2+) imaging reveals subcellular Ca(2+) sparks and global Ca(2+) waves/oscillations in vascular smooth muscle. It is well established that Ca(2+) sparks can relax arteries, but we have previously reported that sparks can summate to generate Ca(2+) waves/oscillations in unpressurized retinal arterioles, leading to constriction. We have extended these studies to test the functional significance of Ca(2+) sparks in the generation of myogenic tone in pressurized arterioles.

Experimental Approach: Isolated retinal arterioles (25-40 μm external diameter) were pressurized to 70 mmHg, leading to active constriction. Ca(2+) signals were imaged from arteriolar smooth muscle in the same vessels using Fluo4 and confocal laser microscopy.

Key Results: Tone development was associated with an increased frequency of Ca(2+) sparks and oscillations. Vasomotion was observed in 40% of arterioles and was associated with synchronization of Ca(2+) oscillations, quantifiable as an increased cross-correlation coefficient. Inhibition of Ca(2+) sparks with ryanodine, tetracaine, cyclopiazonic acid or nimodipine, or following removal of extracellular Ca(2+) , resulted in arteriolar relaxation. Cyclopiazonic acid-induced dilatation was associated with decreased Ca(2+) sparks and oscillations but with a sustained rise in the mean global cytoplasmic [Ca(2+) ] ([Ca(2+) ]c ), as measured using Fura2 and microfluorimetry.

Conclusions and Implications: This study provides direct evidence that Ca(2+) sparks can play an excitatory role in pressurized arterioles, promoting myogenic tone. This contrasts with the generally accepted model in which sparks promote relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Changes in vessel tone in the presence of cyclopiazonic acid correlated more closely with changes in spark and oscillation frequency than global [Ca(2+) ]c , underlining the importance of frequency-modulated signalling in vascular smooth muscle.

Accounting for the effects of lipids in stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N values) analysis of skin and blubber of balaenopterid whales

RATIONALE Stable isotope values (d¹³C and d¹⁵N) of darted skin and blubber biopsies can shed light on habitat use and diet of cetaceans, which are otherwise difficult to study. Non-dietary factors affect isotopic variability, chiefly the depletion of C due to the presence of C-rich lipids. The efficacy of post hoc lipid-correction models (normalization) must be tested. METHODS For tissues with high natural lipid content (e.g., whale skin and blubber), chemical lipid extraction or normalization is necessary. C:N ratios, d¹³C values and d¹⁵N values were determined for duplicate control and lipid-extracted skin and blubber of fin (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and minke whales (B. acutorostrata) by continuous-flow elemental analysis isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-EA-IRMS). Six different normalization models were tested to correct d¹³C values for the presence of lipids. RESULTS Following lipid extraction, significant increases in d¹³C values were observed for both tissues in the three species. Significant increases were also found for d¹⁵N values in minke whale skin and fin whale blubber. In fin whale skin, the d¹⁵N values decreased, with no change observed in humpback whale skin. Non-linear models generally out-performed linear models and the suitability of models varied by species and tissue, indicating the need for high model specificity, even among these closely related taxa. CONCLUSIONS Given the poor predictive power of the models to estimate lipid-free d13C values, and the unpredictable changes in d N values due to lipid-extraction, we recommend against arithmetical normalization in accounting for lipid effects on d13C values for balaenopterid skin or blubber samples. Rather, we recommend that duplicate analysis of lipid-extracted (d13C values) and non-treated tissues (d15N values) be used. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Exchange-correlation energy and potential as approximate functionals of occupied and virtual Kohn-Sham orbitals: Application to dissociating H-2

The standard local density approximation and generalized gradient approximations fail to properly describe the dissociation of an electron pair bond, yielding large errors (on the order of 50 kcal/mol) at long bond distances. To remedy this failure, a self-consistent Kohn-Sham (KS) method is proposed with the exchange-correlation (xc) energy and potential depending on both occupied and virtual KS orbitals. The xc energy functional of Buijse and Baerends [Mol. Phys. 100, 401 (2002); Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 133004 (2001)] is employed, which, based on an ansatz for the xc-hole amplitude, is able to reproduce the important dynamical and nondynamical effects of Coulomb correlation through the efficient use of virtual orbitals. Self-consistent calculations require the corresponding xc potential to be obtained, to which end the optimized effective potential (OEP) method is used within the common energy denominator approximation for the static orbital Green's function. The problem of the asymptotic divergence of the xc potential of the OEP when a finite number of virtual orbitals is used is addressed. The self-consistent calculations reproduce very well the entire H-2 potential curve, describing correctly the gradual buildup of strong left-right correlation in stretched H-2. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.

A fast transient kinetic study of the effect of H-2 on the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with octane using isotopically labelled (NO)-N-15

The H-2-assisted hydrocarbon selective catalytic reduction (HC-SCR) of NO, was investigated using fast transient kinetic analysis coupled with isotopically labelled (NO)-N-15. This allowed monitoring of the evolution of products and reactants during switches of H-2 in and out of the SCR reaction mix. The results obtained with a time resolution of less than 1 s showed that the effect on the reaction of the removal or addition of H-2 was essentially instantaneous. This is consistent with the view that H-2 has a direct chemical effect on the reaction mechanism rather than a secondary one through the formation of "active" Ag clusters. The effect of H-2 partial pressure was investigated at 245 degrees C, it was found that increasing partial pressure of H-2 resulted in increasing conversion of NO and octane. It was also found that the addition of H-2 at 245 degrees C had different effects on the product distribution depending on its partial pressure. The change of the nitrogen balance over time during switches in and out of hydrogen showed that significant quantities of N-containing species were stored when hydrogen was introduced to the system. The positive nitrogen balance on removal of H-2 from the gas phase showed that these stored species continued to react after removal of hydrogen to form N-2. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

HDAC Inhibition Overcomes Acute Resistance to MEK Inhibition in BRAF-Mutant Colorectal Cancer by Downregulation of c-FLIPL

Purpose: Activating mutations in the BRAF oncogene are found in 8% to 15% of colorectal cancer patients and have been associated with poor survival. In contrast with BRAF-mutant (MT) melanoma, inhibition of the MAPK pathway is ineffective in the majority of BRAFMT colorectal cancer patients. Therefore, identification of novel therapies for BRAFMT colorectal cancer is urgently needed.

Experimental Design: BRAFMT and wild-type (WT) colorectal cancer models were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Small-molecule inhibitors of MEK1/2, MET, and HDAC were used, overexpression and siRNA approaches were applied, and cell death was assessed by flow cytometry, Western blotting, cell viability, and caspase activity assays.

Results: Increased c-MET-STAT3 signaling was identified as a novel adaptive resistance mechanism to MEK inhibitors (MEKi) in BRAFMT colorectal cancer models in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, MEKi treatment resulted in acute increases in transcription of the endogenous caspase-8 inhibitor c-FLIPL in BRAFMT cells, but not in BRAFWT cells, and inhibition of STAT3 activity abrogated MEKi-induced c-FLIPL expression. In addition, treatment with c-FLIP–specific siRNA or HDAC inhibitors abrogated MEKi-induced upregulation of c-FLIPL expression and resulted in significant increases in MEKi-induced cell death in BRAFMT colorectal cancer cells. Notably, combined HDAC inhibitor/MEKi treatment resulted in dramatically attenuated tumor growth in BRAFMT xenografts.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that c-MET/STAT3-dependent upregulation of c-FLIPL expression is an important escape mechanism following MEKi treatment in BRAFMT colorectal cancer. Thus, combinations of MEKi with inhibitors of c-MET or c-FLIP (e.g., HDAC inhibitors) could be potential novel treatment strategies for BRAFMT colorectal cancer.